Balimaya Project is a London-based collective redefining contemporary jazz by connecting it with the Mandé tradition and the rich rhythmic tapestry of West Africa. Discos Pacífico All Stars brings together key musicians from renowned Colombian groups like Bejuco and Semblanzas del Río Guapi.
"Yo te vi" is the first glimpse into their joint album, CALIMA, composed in Tumaco, Colombia.
Polyrhythmic riffs from balafon and marimba open the track, giving way to the powerful vocal ensemble of the Pacific; bata, kidi, atumblan, cununo, and bombo drums enter into dialogue with the precise textures of afrobeat drums; horns and Fula flutes recall timeless melodies that celebrate a shared history.
This song presents a melancholic juga that reflects the deep emotional resonance of the marimba tradition from Colombia's Nariño and Cauca regions. It also incorporates elements of Congolese rumba guitar, and Agbadza rhythms from the Gbé peoples of Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, and Togo - all to accompany the powerful voice of William Martínez, one of Tumaco's most iconic singers.